A federal judge in California on Wednesday voided the Trump administration’s move to terminate the Temporary Protected Status of roughly 60,000 immigrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua, calling it a “pre-ordained decision.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of the TPS programs for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua in June and July, saying the three countries had recovered from the environmental disasters that prompted the U.S. government to grant their nationals temporary legal refuge.
Created by Congress in 1990, the TPS policy allows the U.S. government to give certain foreigners deportation protections and work permits, temporarily, if their native countries are facing armed conflict, an environmental disaster or another emergency that makes their return unsafe.
In late July, U.S. District Court Judge Trina Thompson delayed the termination of the TPS programs for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua, issuing a preliminary finding that the Trump administration failed to consider lingering problems in three nations and that the decision to terminate the policies was motivated by racial animus, or racial hostility. That ruling was paused in August by an appeals court, allowing the Trump administration to end the programs.
But Thompson issued a summary judgment on Wednesday, finding that the effort to revoke the legal status of tens of thousands of Hondurans, Nepalis and Nicaraguans was unlawful. She said Noem’s move “was preordained and pretextual rather than based on an objective review of the country conditions as required by the TPS statute and the (Administrative Procedures Act).”
“The record specifically reflects that, before taking office, the Secretary made a pre-ordained decision to end TPS and influenced the conditions review process to facilitate TPS terminations for Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal,” Thompson wrote in her order.
The TPS designations for Honduras and Nicaragua were first created in the late 1990s, after the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch, which killed thousands in Central America. Many of those previously enrolled in those programs arrived in the U.S. more than two decades ago. The TPS policy for Nepal was established in 2015, following a deadly earthquake in the small Asian nation.
The Trump administration has mounted an aggressive effort to dismantle most TPS programs, arguing the policy attracts illegal immigration and that it has been abused by Democratic administrations and extended for far too long. It has also moved to terminate TPS protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela.
In a statement, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the judge’s ruling “another lawless and activist order from the federal judiciary who continues to usurp the President’s constitutional authority.”
“Under the previous administration Temporary Protected Status was abused to allow violent terrorists, criminals, and national security threats into our nation,” McLaughlin said. “TPS was never designed to be permanent, yet previous administrations have used it as a de facto amnesty program for decades. Given the improved situation in each of these countries, now is the right time to conclude what was always intended to be a temporary designation.”
Ahilan Arulanantham, co-director of the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy, said Wednesday’s ruling should allow TPS holders from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal to work in the U.S. legally and prevent federal immigration officials from detaining and deporting them.
“The court’s decision today restores TPS protections for thousands of long-term law-abiding TPS-holding residents from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua,” Arulanantham said.
Deep in the northern reaches of Nepal’s Gorkha District lies a secret that most travelers never discover. While millions flock to the famous trails of Everest and Annapurna, one extraordinary valley remains hidden from the tourist masses, preserving its pristine beauty and ancient culture in spectacular isolation. This isn’t just another trekking destination but an authentic sanctuary where time seems suspended.
Known as the “Hidden Valley,” Tsum Valley is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage area. It was only opened to trekkers in 2008, making it one of Nepal’s most secluded regions. The name itself reveals everything. In the local dialect, “Tsum” means “vivid,” and this valley certainly lives up to its name with stunning landscapes that remain largely untouched by modern tourism.
The Sacred Valley That Time Forgot
The Sacred Valley That Time Forgot (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Somewhat mystery-shrouded and isolated, the Tsum Valley in the northern segment of Gorkha District in Nepal is also called a “hidden valley.” It lies at an altitude of 3,700 meters, with Tsum remaining closed to visitors until 2008, making it even today one of the least travelled and remote destinations. Unlike the commercialized routes that attract thousands daily, this remarkable valley offers something truly rare in modern Nepal.
The concept of hidden valleys and secret places in the Himalayas is rooted in the beliefs and legends surrounding Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism. For centuries, local legends whispered about this sacred beyul, or hidden sanctuary, blessed by ancient Buddhist masters as a place of spiritual refuge.
A Glimpse Behind Tourist Numbers
A Glimpse Behind Tourist Numbers (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Limited trade with Tibet continues in some areas, although tourism has become an increasingly important economic activity since the valley was opened to trekkers in 2008. Tsum Valley is part of the Manaslu Circuit Trek and has gained popularity among trekkers seeking less-commercialized routes. Still, visitor numbers remain astonishingly low compared to mainstream destinations. It was a restricted area and opened for trekking in 2008. Nowadays, the Valley has been receiving an increasing number of visitors every year.
Why This Valley Stays Hidden
Why This Valley Stays Hidden (Image Credits: Pixabay)
The reasons behind Tsum Valley’s obscurity aren’t accidental. Why it’s hidden: Special permit required; remoteness. Unlike popular trekking routes, visiting Tsum Valley requires special restricted area permits that cost additional fees and must be obtained through registered agencies with licensed guides.
Tsum Valley Trek in the Manaslu region is a remote trekking area in Nepal. It is a restricted area where one needs a Special permit from the government to visit. This bureaucratic barrier alone deters casual tourists who prefer the convenience of permit-free trails. The requirement for a minimum of two trekkers per group, accompanied by licensed guides, adds another layer of complexity that keeps numbers manageable.
However, due to its newness, the region has minimal infrastructure with a raw trekking trail and camping accommodation facilities. You can say that it is certainly a raw, wilderness-focused adventure that takes you into the remote, rugged terrain, offering solitude and serenity.
The Authentic Culture Tourists Miss
The Authentic Culture Tourists Miss (Image Credits: Pixabay)
It turns out that the valley is home to the Tsumba people, who speak a language sui generis in dialect and syllable and have their own culture and way of life. This linguistic uniqueness creates an authentic cultural barrier that preserves traditional ways of life from outside influence.
Cultural Insights: The people of Tsum Valley practice Tibetan Buddhism, and the region is dotted with ancient monasteries, mani walls (stone walls with carved prayers), and stupas. The valley is believed to be a “Beyul” (a sacred valley) blessed by Guru Rinpoche, the legendary Buddhist saint. Visitors can immerse themselves in the spiritual atmosphere, meeting monks and learning about the unique fusion of Tibetan and Nepali traditions.
Subsistence farming and animal husbandry are the main sources of livelihood. Despite the introduction of modern amenities in recent years, many traditional practices, including polyandry and communal resource sharing, persist in parts of the valley.
Pristine Wilderness Most Never Experience
Pristine Wilderness Most Never Experience (Image Credits: Unsplash)
The Rolwaling Valley is known for its raw and untouched beauty. It is surrounded by majestic mountains, including Gauri Shankar (7,134 meters/23,406 feet), one of the sacred peaks of Nepal. However, Tsum Valley offers equally spectacular scenery with far fewer footprints.
Being within the Manaslu Conservation Area, Tsum Valley is home to a range of wildlife, including Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, and snow leopards. Conservation initiatives focus on balancing ecological preservation with sustainable tourism and the protection of local cultural heritage. The valley’s biodiversity remains largely intact due to limited human impact and traditional conservation practices rooted in Buddhist philosophy.
Rare flora, fauna, and a host of medicinal herbs used since time immemorial in traditional Tibetan medicine and Ayurveda are found here. Tsum Valley is a haven for several trekking expeditions and cultural tours, with many opportunities for wildlife viewing during treks in the picturesque alpine forests of Tsum Valley, over rugged mountain passes, and into some remote and isolated village settlements.
The Infrastructure Challenge
The Infrastructure Challenge (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Region is very remote and off the modern comforts. The teahouse lodges, food, and other tourism services are very limited and basic, which does not appeal to most trekkers. Though Kanchenjunga Trek is a hidden gem for those seeking a less crowded adventure yet it has not received the same level of promotion as other popular destinations. This statement about Kanchenjunga applies equally to Tsum Valley.
The limited infrastructure acts as a natural filter, keeping away tourists seeking comfortable lodges and reliable amenities. This fantastic trek has natural beauty and cultural values. Furthermore, it is also a virgin trek. It started in 2008 for tourism, but has yet to be explored further. This “virgin” status means accommodation remains basic, trails are underdeveloped, and modern conveniences are scarce.
A Conservation Success Story
A Conservation Success Story (Image Credits: Unsplash)
The valley’s hidden status has inadvertently created one of Nepal’s most successful conservation stories. As the region is less frequented by tourists, trekkers can experience a sense of seclusion and tranquility, away from the crowds. However, it is crucial to adhere to responsible trekking practices and respect the local culture and environment. Hiring a knowledgeable local guide is recommended to ensure a safe and enriching experience.
Whether it’s the spiritual calm of Tengboche, the sacred valleys of Tsum, or the community warmth of Ghale Gaun, Nepal’s hidden mountain villages offer a side of the country that many travelers never get to see. This preservation through obscurity has maintained ecosystems and cultural practices that might otherwise face pressure from mass tourism.
The low visitor numbers mean traditional lifestyles continue unchanged, with locals still practicing sustainable farming methods passed down through generations. Agriculture is the backbone of the local economy, with residents cultivating crops such as barley, potatoes, maize, and buckwheat. Yak and sheep herding are also significant, especially in higher-altitude settlements.
2024 had witnessed an average of 3,144 tourists arriving in Nepal every day. Most of these visitors never discover places like Tsum Valley. This remarkable valley continues to guard its secrets, offering those willing to venture off the beaten path an authentic glimpse into Nepal’s untouched heart. For now, this beautiful sanctuary remains exactly what it was meant to be: a hidden treasure awaiting only the most dedicated adventurers.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, advocates, families, and community leaders gathered outside the Phillip Burton Federal Courthouse as a federal judge considered the legality of the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 60,000 longtime U.S. residents from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The hearing in NTPSA II v. Noem marks a decisive moment for TPS holders, most of whom have lived in the United States for more than 25 years under humanitarian protection.
Earlier this year, despite the district court’s ruling that the terminations were likely unlawful, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit stayed protections issued by the district court and allowed the terminations to take effect, stripping tens of thousands of TPS holders of their lawful status and work authorization.
At Tuesday’s hearing, the district court considered whether to issue a final judgment that would restore protections for these individuals while the case proceeds. The judge did not make a ruling on the parties’ summary judgment motions but indicated she intended to deny the government’s motion to dismiss the case.
Outside the court, plaintiffs spoke about how their lives had been impacted by the TPS terminations.
Inside the courtroom, attorneys presented documents and expert testimony showing that the decisions to end TPS for Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal were motivated by politics and bias rather than legal considerations.
The judge questioned the government’s claims but did not specify when a ruling would be issued.
Legal representatives emphasized their strong commitment to continuing the fight for TPS holders and their families. TPS recipients expressed fear and uncertainty due to the loss of lawful status, despite their decades-long contributions as workers, homeowners, parents, and vital members of their communities.
Approximately 60,000 individuals, many of whom arrived in the U.S. in the 1990s, now face the threat of deportation and family separation, and most already are facing severe economic hardship. TPS holders are essential contributors to industries including construction, childcare, healthcare, and disaster recovery. Ending protections would destabilize families and weaken local economies across the country.
“Families who have lived here legally for decades are now in limbo,” said Francis Garcia of the National TPS Alliance. “Today’s hearing is their chance at justice.”
This case will determine not only the fate of thousands of TPS holders but also the strength of the United States’ humanitarian commitments and the rule of law. Advocates emphasized that the district court’s earlier findings were clear: the terminations were arbitrary, unlawful, and contrary to the purpose of the TPS program. They called on the court to restore TPS protections and urged Congress and the Trump administration to create a permanent legislative solution for all TPS holders.
“We are here to defend our families and our futures,” said Jose Palma, closing the press conference. “TPS holders have built their lives in this country. Home is here, and we deserve stability and dignity.”
The plaintiffs are the National TPS Alliance, which represents hundreds of thousands of TPS holders nationwide; and individual TPS holders from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal who have lost their legal status due to DHS Secretary Noem’s TPS terminations. The plaintiffs are represented by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU Foundation of Northern and Southern California, and Haitian Bridge Alliance.
Seven Italian climbers are missing in Nepal’s Himalayan mountains after heavy snowstorms and avalanches have killed at least nine people in recent days.
Three Italian climbers were among five foreigners and two Nepali guides who were confirmed killed on Monday when a huge avalanche smashed through a base camp near the summit of Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal’s Himalayan range, according to reports.
Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that local authorities had confirmed the deaths of the three Italian climbers, but there “remains no news of seven other Italian nationals” who have been reported missing.
“In recent days, several areas of the Nepalese Himalayas have been affected by a series of avalanches that have struck numerous mountaineers, including Italian citizens,” the ministry said.
“Communication between local authorities, rescue teams, and the diplomatic missions of the countries involved continues to be extremely challenging,” the ministry added.
Nepal’s Department of Tourism director, Himal Gautam, said there was no immediate information about the fate of the seven people reported missing.
Nepal’s Himalayan Times newspaper reported on Wednesday that the bodies of an Italian and a French climber were recovered from the site of the avalanche that struck a group of 12 people at their base camp on Mount Yalung Ri on Monday.
The seven people killed at the camp included three Italians, two Nepalis, a German and a French climber and, according to the newspaper, five others were rescued, including three Nepalis and two French nationals.
French survivor Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, who lost her husband, Christian Manfred, in the avalanche on Yalung Ri, told The Associated Press news agency that she was lucky to have survived with another French climber, Didier Armand.
“We were lucky,” Thaon said from her hospital bed in the capital Kathmandu, adding that she had jumped over rocks and swam in the snow of the avalanche until help arrived to pull them out.
“Unfortunately, Christian died … because rocks hit his head,” she said of her late husband.
Mount Yalung Ri, located in the Rolwaling Valley of northeastern Nepal, is a 5,600-metre (18,370-foot) peak considered suitable for novice mountaineers.
On Friday, in western Nepal, contact was lost with two Italian climbers, who were later confirmed to have died while attempting to scale the 6,887-metre (22,595-foot) Panbari mountain.
Nepal was hit last week by unseasonal rains and heavy snow due to the impact of Cyclone Montha, which left many trekkers and tourists stranded on popular Himalayan trekking routes.
Nepalese authorities have issued alerts to trekkers and climbers in the country, which is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, and which are visited by many foreign and local trekkers and climbers each year.
For most trekkers, the journey to the Himalayas is a dream trip: a chance to walk through ancient trails, gaze at the tallest peaks on Earth, and see Nepal’s raw mountain beauty up close.
But while trekking up to Everest Base Camp or Annapurna feels adventurous and thrilling, the long descent back can sometimes feel repetitive, especially after days of pushing your limits. This is where a helicopter return adds a luxurious and time-saving touch to your Himalayan adventure.
A helicopter return is about comfort, perspective, and efficiency. It can turn a great trek into an exceptional one, allowing you to embrace both the challenges of the trail and the ease of modern luxury.
A unique experience of helicopter return
Imagine the excitement of standing at the foot of Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,598 ft), surrounded by towering peaks that touch the sky. You’ve taken days through Sherpa villages, icy ridges, and alpine valleys to get there. Instead of retracing the same rugged trail for another week, a helicopter return provides a luxurious end to your adventure, plus a view that will stay with you forever. You fly over the Khumbu Glacier, Tengboche Monastery, and Namche Bazaar before landing at Lukla or Kathmandu.
If you’re looking to experience this unforgettable journey, then the Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return by Himalayan Masters combines adventure and the ease of modern luxury.
Why choose helicopter return?
Adding a helicopter return to your trek isn’t just about convenience; it’s all about redefining the experience. Here’s why trekkers are choosing this luxurious option:
Time-saving: Cut 3–4 days of descent and return to Kathmandu or Lukla in less than 40 minutes.
Comfort & style: Relax in a safe and private flight after completing one of the toughest trekking routes.
Spectacular aerial views: Witness the panoramic beauty of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Thamserku from the sky.
Reduced fatigue: Avoid strain on the knees and legs from long downhill trails.
Emergency assurance: Helicopter return is available in case of altitude problems or exhaustion for a quick and safe exit.
Everest Base Camp helicopter options
Multiple options for helicopter returns are available in the Everest region, depending on your trekking schedule, weather, and budget.
Option
From
To
Duration
Ideal For
Standard Return Flight
Gorak Shep
Lukla
15-20 min
Those who want to shorten their return trek
Direct Return to Kathmandu
Kala Patthar or Gorak Shep
Kathmandu
45-60 min
Trekkers with limited time
Private Charter
Any point in the region
Custom destination
Flexible
Luxury and photography-focused travellers
While every option is a little different, they guarantee breathtaking aerial views of glaciers, valleys, and peaks not often experienced by trekkers on the ground.
Adding luxury to the standard EBC trek
A helicopter return doesn’t replace the spirit of trekking; it enhances it. You still trek through the same trails, immerse yourself in Sherpa culture, and stay in traditional teahouses. The difference is how your journey ends.
The Everest Base Camp Trek With Helicopter Return by Himalayan Masters follows the same legendary route from Lukla via Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche, up to Gorakshep.
After reaching Everest Base Camp and hiking up to Kala Patthar (5,550 m/18,209 ft) for sunrise, you’ll board a helicopter that flies over the Khumbu Icefall and snow-capped ridges, giving you a bird’s-eye view of everything you’ve just conquered on foot.
It’s a smooth, luxurious end to a pretty physically demanding trek, ideal for travellers who are keen to balance adventure with comfort.
Is it worth the cost?
While this helicopter return does add an extra cost (usually $800–1200 per person for shared flights), it’s generally viewed as money well spent. What it saves is time, energy, and effort.
After 8–9 days of trekking, this flight back is a well-deserved reward for most travellers. It not only prevents fatigue but also makes the return scenic and efficient. Such an arrangement also avoids the changing mountain weather that often delays flights or causes congestion on routes.
If you’re short on vacation time, the helicopter return also means that you can do the complete trek in 9–10 days instead of 13–14, and without missing any highlights.
The perfect ending to a Himalayan journey
A Himalayan helicopter return allows you to rise above the trails, see the winding paths you conquered, the glaciers you admired, and the peaks that inspired your climb-all in one sweeping view. It’s a great ending to your adventure that also provides an exciting new perspective on your trip.
If you dream about the ultimate Himalayan experience, consider the Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return with Himalayan Masters. You’ll trek right through the heart of the world’s highest peaks, stand face to face with Everest, and return as a true explorer, flying over the very landscapes that tested and transformed you.
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) -Colonel Michael Randrianirina has taken control of Madagascar after its sitting president fled following weeks of youth-led Gen Z protests against his rule.
Following are key facts about Randrianirina:
* Randrianirina is part of Madagascar’s elite military CAPSAT unit, the group that brought now-deposed president Andry Rajoelina to power in a 2009 coup.
* Since taking control this week, he has suspended the southern African country’s institutions, including the Senate, electoral commission and top legal bodies, including the High Constitutional Court that validated his takeover as interim president. He said it might take up to two years to hold elections to transition back to a civilian government.
* Randrianirina became a vocal critic of Rajoelina in recent years and was arrested on suspicion of instigating an army mutiny on 27 November 2023, for which he was charged, brought before court and sent to prison all on the same day.
He was released in February 2024, after being given a suspended sentence for attacking state security, and returned to CAPSAT.
* On October 11, as the Gen Z protests against Rajoelina gathered steam, Randrianirina recorded a video in which he called on Madagascar’s security forces to disobey orders to open fire on protesters. Some CAPSAT soldiers then joined the protests after that declaration of support.
* He was born in the village of Sevohipoty, in the region of Androy, on the southernmost tip of the Indian Ocean island. He is 51 years old, although the exact date of his birth is not public knowledge, nor is his family background.
* He was governor of Androy between 2016 and 2018, later becoming head of an infantry battalion in the city of Toliara until 2022. Then he was promoted to a senior role in CAPSAT.
(Reporting by Tim CocksAdditional reporting by Lovasoa Rabary, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
(Reuters) -Floods and landslides unleashed by unrelenting rain in India’s eastern hill region of Darjeeling killed at least 18 people, after washing away homes, roads and bridges, authorities said, while the death toll in neighbouring Nepal rose to 50.
Several people were still missing on Monday, as relief and restoration work got underway, said local government officials in India’s state of West Bengal, warning that the death toll was likely to rise as details flowed in from remote areas.
“Two iron bridges have collapsed, several roads have been damaged and flooded, huge tracts of land … have been inundated,” Mamata Banerjee, the state’s chief minister, said in a post on X.
The districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, which are home to tea plantations, were among those affected, she added.
More showers are expected after the weekend’s “extremely heavy” downpours in Darjeeling, said H R Biswas, the regional weather head in the state’s capital of Kolkata.
Highway traffic was disrupted as part of an iron bridge over the Balason River linking the city of Siliguri in the plains with the hill town of Mirik collapsed in the heavy rain, and many roads caved in.
Large amounts of debris littered the roads, a local disaster management official said, making it impossible for rescuers to reach many places in the remote area.
The Himalayan hill resort of Darjeeling is famed for its tea and draws tourists with spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. Banerjee urged tourists to stay put until they were safely evacuated.
Across the border in Nepal, the deaths in floods and landslides rose to 50, 37 in separate landslides in the eastern district of Ilam bordering India, a spokesperson for the Armed Police Force said.
Rescuers dug into the mud and debris in the district, hunting for survivors, while also clearing blocked roads after landslides washed away homes in several villages, district official Bholanath Guragain said.
(Reporting by Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar and Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu; Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
KATHMANDU (Reuters) -Heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods blocking roads, washing away bridges and killing at least 22 people in the last 36 hours in Nepal, officials said on Sunday.
Eighteen people were killed in separate landslides in the Ilam district in the east bordering India, police spokesperson Binod Ghimire said. Three people were killed in southern Nepal in lightning strikes and one person died in floods in Udayapur district, also in east Nepal, he said.
Eleven people were washed away by floods and have been missing since Saturday, authorities said.
“Rescue efforts for them are going on,” Shanti Mahat, a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) spokesperson, told Reuters.
Several highways have been blocked by landslides and washed away by floods, stranding hundreds of passengers, authorities said.
“Domestic flights are largely disrupted but international flights are operating normally,” Rinji Sherpa, a spokesperson for Kathmandu airport said.
In southeastern Nepal, the Koshi River, which causes deadly floods in the eastern Indian state of Bihar almost every year, was flowing above the danger level, a district official said.
Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, district governor of Sunsari district, said water flows in the Koshi River were more than double normal.
Mishra said all 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage had been opened to drain out water compared with about 10 to 12 during a normal situation, adding that authorities are “preparing to ban heavy vehicles from its bridge”.
In hill-ringed Kathmandu, several rivers have flooded roads and inundated many houses, cutting the temple-studded capital off from the rest of the country by road.
Hundreds of people die every year in landslides and flash floods that are common in mostly mountainous Nepal during the monsoon season which normally starts in mid-June and continues through mid-September.
Weather officials say rains are likely to lash the Himalayan nation until Monday and authorities say they are taking “maximum care and precautions” to help people affected by the disaster.
(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
A video of a police station set on fire during “Gen Z” protests in Nepal has resurfaced in social media posts falsely claiming it shows a blaze in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka. The video corresponds to Google Street View imagery of the police station in Nepal’s Banepa municipality.
“Terrible fire in Dhaka’s Demra. People are jumping from the roof to save their lives. May Allah protect everyone,” reads the Bengali-language caption of a Facebook video shared on September 14, 2025.
The video, which has racked up more than 34,000 views, shows people attempting to rescue people trapped inside a burning building.
Screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on September 22, 2025, with a red X added by AFP
Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared clip (left) and the TikTok video (right)
“Banepa Police Station,” reads the TikTok video’s title. Banepa is a municipality in Nepal around 25 kilometres (around 16 miles) east of the Himalayan nation’s capital Kathmandu.
Protests began on September 8, sparked by a short-lived ban on social media, but fuelled by anger at corruption and long-standing economic woes.
At least 73 people were killed and veteran prime minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to quit in the country’s worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and abolition of monarchy in 2008.
The Kathmandu Post reported that protesters set fire to the Banepa Area Police Office on September 9 (archived link).
Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (left) and Google Street View imagery of Banepa (right), with corresponding features highlighted by AFP
On the morning of September 6th, a black S.U.V. carrying a provincial minister from Nepal’s ruling party ran over an eleven-year-old girl, Usha Magar Sunuwar, outside her school in the city of Lalitpur. Rather than stop to help the injured victim, the occupants of the vehicle sped away. Many of the powerful in Nepal, like their brethren across South Asia, believe themselves to be exempt from accountability. And Sunuwar, who miraculously survived, became, in the eyes of the public, another casualty of the governing élite’s contempt for ordinary Nepalis. When K. P. Sharma Oli, the country’s seventy-three-year-old Prime Minister, was questioned by the press about the incident, he shrugged it off as a “normal accident.” Oli, a Communist who began his political career as a tribune of the oppressed, seemed unaware of the anger that had accumulated around him.
The previous week, Oli’s government had banned twenty-six social-media and messaging platforms—including Facebook and X—for failing to comply with elaborate regulations introduced, as a multitude of Nepalis saw it, to muzzle people’s speech. Almost half of Nepal’s population uses some form of social media, which accounts for nearly eighty per cent of the country’s internet traffic. Among the users of these platforms are politicians’ children, who appear to lead and post photos of opulent lives: designer handbags, luxury holidays, lavish parties. Wealth “without visible function,” Hannah Arendt once warned, breeds more resentment than do oppression or exploitation “because nobody can understand why it should be tolerated.”
Since August, TikTok and Instagram in Nepal had been inundated with sharply cut videos that juxtaposed these excesses with the hardships suffered by most in a country from which, every day, some two thousand men and women leave to look for livelihoods elsewhere. Of those who stay, more than eighty per cent work in the informal sector—as domestic servants, street hawkers, porters, cleaners. Last year, in the formal sector, youth unemployment stood at 20.8 per cent. This helps to explain, perhaps, why young Nepalis are overrepresented among the foreign mercenaries recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine; the laborers who built the infrastructure for Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup, dying at a rate of one every two days while toiling in extreme heat; and seasonal migrant workers in India.
The remittances of Nepalis abroad, constituting a third of the country’s G.D.P., are indispensable to Nepal’s survival. The social-media ban cut off many of these expatriates from their families. Implemented in the run-up to a major festival, it also disrupted small businesses that rely on online channels to market their products. An immediate public backlash ensued. On September 8th, cities across the country were deluged with angry young protesters demanding a revocation of the ban. They called themselves “Gen Z”—a label that somewhat obscures the fact that one of the protests’ organizers, Sudan Gurung, a philanthropist who leads the non-governmental organization Hami Nepal, is a thirty-six-year-old millennial. At least nineteen people were killed, most of them in Kathmandu, the capital, when demonstrators clashed with security forces, who responded by firing live rounds of ammunition. The government was sufficiently rattled to rescind the ban the next morning. The marches, however, intensified. By the evening, Oli had resigned and vanished.
The protesters had by then mutated into a mob. And, as the state receded, the mob set fire to the symbols of state power in Kathmandu: Singha Durbar, Nepal’s administrative headquarters; the health ministry; the Parliament building; the Supreme Court; the Presidential palace; and the Prime Minister’s residence. Private properties, from the offices of the governing Communist Party to the glass-and-steel tower housing the Kathmandu Hilton, were also set ablaze. Outsiders called this mayhem a revolution. And those participating in it dispensed revolutionary justice to members of the ancien régime unlucky enough to be caught. Sher Bahadur Deuba—who had served five terms as Nepal’s Prime Minister, most recently in 2022—and his wife, Arzu Rana, the foreign minister in Oli’s cabinet, were beaten savagely in their home. Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, the wife of another former Prime Minister, was burned to death inside her residence.
By September 10th, Nepal had descended into a state of lawlessness, a country without a government or authority. The only national institution that survived—and that possessed the capability to restore order—was the Army, which, sheltering the civilian leadership, opened talks with representatives of the protest movement. Events then moved at dizzying speed. Within forty-eight hours, Nepal’s President had been forced to appoint an interim Prime Minister, dissolve the country’s elected Parliament, and announce new elections. As search teams set about recovering bodies from the charred government buildings, the death toll rose to more than seventy, and the number of injured exceeded two thousand.
Nepal is the third South Asian country in the past four years to stage a violent overthrow of its government. In 2022, anger over soaring prices in Sri Lanka erupted into mass protests that swept the Rajapaksa dynasty from power. Last August, the long reign of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s autocratic Prime Minister, was brought to a sudden end after bloody street rallies culminated in the sacking of her residence.
One can scarcely draw solace from the trajectories of those recent revolts. In Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa clan remains a force, bruised but far from vanquished. The movement that defenestrated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ended with the appointment of his handpicked successor: Ranil Wickremesinghe, a consummate insider who had already served four terms as Prime Minister. Wickremesinghe set loose the armed forces on the protests, which fizzled out rapidly, and stabilized the economy by introducing painful austerity measures backed by the International Monetary Fund. He was defeated in last year’s Presidential elections by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a left-wing candidate who had pledged to soften the I.M.F. deal. A year into his Presidency, however, Dissanayake has largely maintained the program. Meanwhile, the interethnic hostilities that led to the horrors of Sri Lanka’s civil war—which ended, in 2009, with the brutal defeat of the island’s Tamil minority—persist under his watch.
Protesters in Nepal ousted the prime minister and set parliament ablaze over the government’s ban on social media and corruption allegations — but in neighbouring India, the violence is being misrepresented online as something else entirely: a religious uprising.
While some claim that the demonstrations are a demand for a “Hindu state”, others say the opposite — that they are an attack on the faith.
Fuelling the narrative are allegations from Indian broadcasters and politicians that rioters vandalised Nepal’s Pashupatinath temple, a revered Hindu site in the Himalayan nation.
Screenshot of a false X post, with a red X added by AFP
“Some rioters, hiding within the crowd of protesters, attempted to vandalise the temple, and it was only after this incident that the army was deployed,” an anchor for the right-wing Zee News television channel said in a report featuring a clip of people climbing onto the temple’s gate and violently shaking it.
Jivesh Mishra, a member of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in eastern Bihar state, which shares a border with Nepal, told reporters on Wednesday: “An attack on a temple is an attack on (the) Hindu faith.”
Right-wing influencers also amplified the claim to their thousands of followers.
But AFP fact-checkers traced the footage to a religious ritual called Naxal Bhagwati Jatra, filmed weeks before the violence.
KN Swami, a renowned monk in the temple, also posted clips on social media to refute claims it had been attacked (archived link).
“I am currently inside the temple, and everything is peaceful here,” he confirmed to AFP on Wednesday.
Nepal’s demonstrations began Monday in the capital Kathmandu, driven by angry young protesters who dubbed themselves the “Gen Z” movement.
The protests escalated into an outpouring of rage nationwide, with government buildings set ablaze after a deadly crackdown. KP Sharma Oli quit as prime minister shortly after demonstrators set fire to his house.
‘Instigated and funded’
Hundreds of social media posts have claimed without evidence that the protests were “instigated and funded” by “anti-Hindu forces and Islamists” to attack religious sites.
Nepal, a secular republic since 2008, has witnessed frequent demonstrations by groups demanding a return to Hindu statehood.
Old visuals of the rallies resurfaced online this week, misleadingly presented as the current protests.
Footage of protesters calling for a Hindu monarchy in the past was falsely shared as evidence that Nepal’s “Gen Z” movement is more about religion than corruption.
Another image circulated with a claim that demonstrators wanted India’s firebrand Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath as Nepal’s new prime minister.
Screenshot of a Facebook post, with a red X added by AFP
Other posts viewed thousands of times on X, Instagram, Threads and Facebook have compared the unrest in Nepal with protests in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country where a student-led revolt ousted long-time leader Sheikh Hasina last year.
Meanwhile, hashtags in favour of a “Hindu Nation” — a popular catchphrase of the BJP — have trended across social media platforms in India.
The posts warn the country to “prepare for similar youth uprisings”.
“The urge to break news fast in India is higher, and that led to misinformation from their side,” said Prashant Das, a senior research fellow at South Asian University (archived link).
“What is rife now are speculations and rumours, which are natural responses of people in such situations.”
The next time someone tells you the youth aren’t engaged enough in politics, just point them to Nepal. According to multiple reports, the youth of the South Asian nation managed to oust the existing government following an attempted ban of major social media platforms and took to Discord to hold an impromptu convention to elect an interim prime minister.
Earlier this week, demonstrations led primarily by students and youth groups took to the streets of Nepal to protest the decision of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to ban operations of social platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Twitter) in the country after accusing the companies of failing to appoint liaisons to hear the demands of the Nepali government. Some citizens of the country believe the crackdown came for another reason, though: social media had become a primary source of directing discontent at the current administration, including a recent “Nepo Kid” campaign that alleged corruption throughout the government, highlighted by the lavish lifestyles of the children of elected officials.
A server set up to act as a digital convention space attracted more than 100,000 users, organized by a civic group known as Hami Nepal and dominated by activists who spearheaded and took part in the demonstrations that ultimately led to the ouster of the former prime minister. Within the server, discussions as to who the group wants to lead the country have taken place. Per the Times, the Discord server has hosted conversations with candidates for the role, and members have voted on the platform for their choice: Sushila Karki, a former chief justice and well-known anti-corruption crusader within the country.
The organizing appears to have worked. On Friday, the military accepted the recommendation of the protest group and named Karki the interim prime minister. Karki, who accepted the role, is expected to pick a new cabinet and eventually hold elections. According to the Times, that is expected to happen within the next six months or so.
Gizmodo reached out to Discord for comment on the situation, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned amid Nepal’s worst unrest in decades, as public anger mounts over the deaths of 19 anti-corruption protesters in clashes with police on Monday.
On Tuesday, crowds set fire to parliament in the capital Kathmandu, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Government buildings and the houses of political leaders were attacked around the country.
Three more deaths were reported on Tuesday. Amid the chaos, jail officials said 900 inmates managed to escape from two prisons in Nepal’s western districts.
The demonstrations were triggered by a ban on social media platforms. It was lifted on Monday – but by then protests had swelled into a mass movement.
Nepal’s army chief issued a statement late on Tuesday accusing demonstrators of taking advantage of the current crisis by damaging, looting and setting fire to public and private property.
It said if unrest continued, “all security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are committed to taking control of the situation,” effective from 22:00 local time (16:15 GMT; 17:15 BST), without detailing what this might entail.
Fire and smoke rise from the Singha Durbar palace, which houses government and parliament buildings, as protesters stormed the premises in Kathmandu [EPA/Shutterstock]
While the prime minister has stepped down, it’s not clear who will replace him – or what happens next, with seemingly no-one in charge. Some leaders, including ministers, have reportedly taken refuge with the security forces.
So far, the protesters have not spelt out their demands apart from rallying under the broader anti-corruption call. The protests appear spontaneous, with no organised leadership.
Inside parliament, there were jubilant scenes as hundreds of protesters danced and chanted slogans around a fire at the entrance to the building, many holding Nepal’s flag.
Some entered inside the building, where all the windows have been smashed. Graffiti and anti-government messages have been spray painted on the exterior.
Kathmandu resident Muna Shreshta, 20, was among the large crowd outside parliament.
Corruption has been a long-term issue, she told the BBC, adding that it is “high time our nation, our prime minister, and anyone in power changes, because we need to change”.
“It has happened now and we are more than happy to witness this and fight for this. I hope this change will bring something that is positive to us.”
Ms Shreshta thinks taxes paid by working people need to be used in ways that will help the country grow.
Last week, Nepal’s government ordered authorities to block 26 social media platforms for not complying with a deadline to register.
Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook have millions of users in Nepal, who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.
The government justified its ban in the name of tackling fake news, hate speech and online fraud.
But young people criticised the move as an attack on free speech.
Although the ban was hastily lifted on Monday night, the protests had already gained unstoppable momentum, targeting the political elite and plunging the nation into chaos.
A government minister said they lifted the ban after an emergency meeting late on Monday night to “address the demands of Gen Z”.
In the weeks before the ban, a “nepo kid” campaign, spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children and allegations of corruption, had taken off on social media.
Thousands of young people first attempted to storm the parliament building on Monday. Several districts were put under curfew. Most of the deaths occurred around parliament and government buildings on that day.
On Tuesday, protests continued unabated. A crowd in Kathmandu torched the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party, which is part of the governing coalition, and the house of its leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The house of KP Oli – a 73-year-old four-time prime minister who leads the Communist Party – was also set on fire.
He said he had resigned to pave the way for a constitutional solution to the current crisis.
“In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution,” Oli wrote in his letter to President Ramchandra Paudel.
An aide to Paudel told Reuters news agency the president had accepted the resignation and begun the “process and discussions for a new leader”.
Flights in and out of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, have been cancelled with the airport shutting following deadly protests in Nepal over a government social media ban.
At least 19 people have been killed, and around 100 more injured, as clashes between demonstrators and police erupted in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu is a popular city break destination due to its ancient temples, bustling markets and spectacular Unesco World Heritage sites, such as Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is also often the departure point for those set to climb the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, located outside the city in the Himalayas.
For travellers planning on visiting Kathmandu or other areas in Nepal, and those already there, here is the latest UK government travel advice.
What is happening in Nepal?
At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal amid clashes between protestors and police over a government social media ban.
The demonstrations started when thousands from Generation Z, those in their teens and 20s, protested against the ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Police have been accused of “firing indiscriminately” at demonstrators, while authorities say the protestors broke through a barricade to force their way into the parliament complex in Kathmandu.
Protesters burn vehicles and tires during protests against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, 9 September (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Amid the protests, tyres have been set on fire and objects have been hurled at rows of riot police. One eyewitness told The Independent he saw protesters setting fire to the homes of some politicians in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Protestors marched through the city bearing the national flag and carrying signs stating slogans such as “Shut down corruption, not social media”.
The protests that started in the capital have spread nationwide to other cities, including Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Pokhara.
A burning police station during protests against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday 9 September (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Even after the social media ban was lifted, demonstrators said they would continue to protest. Demonstrators say their grievances are about more than just the social media ban, with some stating that they are continuing to protest corruption and nepotism.
What is the UK government advice?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed that there have been a number of casualties in Nepal and has advised travellers to avoid protests.
“Protests are taking place in Kathmandu and elsewhere across the country. There have been violent clashes, with lethal force used by the police. This has led to a number of deaths and injuries,” the FCDO said.
“Curfews have been introduced in several cities, including Kathmandu and Pokhara. Avoid protests, check local media for updates, and follow direction of the authorities.”
“Kathmandu airport has also been disrupted, impacting domestic and international flights. Contact your airline, hotel and tour operator for up-to-date information before travel. Tourists should be able to move around and travel to and from airports with proof of travel plans,” the FCDO added.
“While the social media ban has been lifted, expect continued disruption to services.”
A fire burns as demonstrators gather on a road during a protest to condemn the police’s deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on Tuesday 9 September (AFP/Getty)
In its general civil disorder advice for Nepal, the FCDO adds that a number of groups have stated their intent to organise protests or political rallies in Kathmandu and elsewhere across the country.
The FCDO said that they can start at short notice and may lead to clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Protests cause disruption to transport, and the authorities may increase the police presence.
Will my flight be cancelled?
Tribhuvan International Airport, the capital’s main airport, is located close to the city centre and has shut due to “adverse conditions within the valley” as well as “smoke” seen around the airport and the flight path, the airport said in a translated post.
Many flights in the morning were cancelled or diverted to other airports in Nepal and India, and by Tuesday afternoon, the civil aviation authority announced the complete closure of the airport with immediate effect.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?
As a passenger, you are covered by UK law if you are departing from an airport in the UK on any airline, arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.
Airlines must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is cancelled, meaning they must supply you with food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers), means for you to communicate (often by refunding call costs), accommodation if you are given a new flight the following day, and transport to and from the accommodation or your home.
The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it, the Civil Aviation Authority says.
Sometimes, airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance if they are stretched during major disruptions, meaning you can arrange the care yourself and claim the cost back later by keeping receipts.
Can I cancel my holiday?
As the FCDO has not warned against travel to Nepal, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
Kathmandu — Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced Tuesday that he would step down as the country was rocked by a second day of unrest amid protests over a since-repealed ban on many major social media platforms. Clashes between young demonstrators and police on Monday turned violent, with police reportedly killing 19 people.
Protesters in Nepal’s capital defied a curfew on Tuesday to continue venting their rage at the government a day after the deadly crackdown.
The protests, which began on Monday with demands that the government lift a ban on social media and tackle corruption, reignited despite the apps being allowed to go back online.
Kathmandu police spokesman Shekhar Khanal said several groups had refused to obey a curfew on Tuesday, telling AFP there were protesters in the streets in many areas including “cases of fire and attacks.”
A protester throws a wooden plank toward flames outside the Nepali Congress party’s headquarters, during a demonstration against the killing the previous day of 19 people, after anti-corruption protests triggered by a social media ban which was later lifted, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 9, 2025.
Navesh Chitrakar/REUTERS
Some targeted the properties of politicians and government buildings, according to an AFP photographer and local media reports. According to The Associated Press, the homes of the leader of the largest political party in the country, Nepali Congress, along with President Ram Chandra Poudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and leader of the Communist party of Nepal were among those set on fire. A private school owned by the foreign minister was also set on fire.
Prime Minister Oli, 73, had ordered a probe into the violence and on Tuesday said he would head all-party talks in a bid to bring about a “meaningful conclusion” to the violence. But not long after, local media said he was stepping down, and the Reuters news agency cited his aide Prakash Silwal as confirming the news.
The interior minister resigned on Monday, according to a government statement, while two others cabinet members had earlier quit on Tuesday, according to Nepali media.
“The social media platforms have been opened, which was among the Gen Z’s demands,” Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung told AFP, referring to young people aged largely in their 20s who have led the protests.
What are the protests in Nepal all about?
The social media ban fed into existing anger at the government in a country with a youth bulge. People aged 15-40 make up nearly 43% of the population, according to government statistics — while unemployment hovers around 10% and GDP per capita at just $1,447, according to the World Bank.
Slogans demanding accountability from the authorities have been a feature at the protests.
“Nearly 20 people were murdered by the state — that shows the scale of police brutality,” 23-year-old student Yujan Rajbhandari, who took part in the demonstrations a day earlier, said Tuesday. “The government… have to take responsibility for the lives that were lost.”
Demonstrators react outside the Nepali Parliament complex during a protest against the killing the previous day of 19 people amid anti-corruption protests that were triggered by a social media ban, which was later lifted, despite a curfew in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 9, 2025.
Adnan Abidi/REUTERS
Several social media sites — including Facebook, YouTube and X — were blocked Friday in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people, after the government cut access to 26 platforms that it said had failed to register as required. In addition to formal registration, the government had required the platforms to post a local liaison in Nepal.
Amnesty International said live ammunition was used against protesters on Monday, and the United Nations demanded a swift and transparent probe.
Police in Kathmandu on Monday clashed with the crowds when protesters pushed through barbed wire and tried to storm into a restricted area near parliament. Seventeen people were killed in Kathmandu, police said, and two more in the eastern district of Sunsari, according to local media.
Police said about 400 people were injured, including more than 100 police.
Since Friday, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which was not blocked.
Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business. Others rely on the apps for messaging.
“This isn’t just about social media — it’s about trust, corruption, and a generation that refuses to stay silent,” the Kathmandu Post newspaper wrote. “Gen Z grew up with smartphones, global trends, and promises of a federal, prosperous Nepal.”
“For them, digital freedom is personal freedom,” the newspaper said. “Cutting off access feels like silencing an entire generation.”
Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past, including to Telegram in July, citing a rise in online fraud. It lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok last year after the platform agreed to comply with Nepali regulations.
Nepal’s government has lifted a controversial ban on social media platforms following violent protests in which at least 19 people died.
The Cabinet took this decision after a late-night crisis meeting, Nepali Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung told the local news portal OnlineKhabar.
On Monday, at least 19 people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and police in the country, including at least 17 in Kathmandu.
Over 100 people were injured, including police officers, according to authorities.
The unrest follows the government’s decision last week to block 26 online networks, including Facebook and Instagram, across the Himalayan nation. Authorities accused the platforms of failing to register properly.
In August, Nepal’s Supreme Court had ordered that the affected online services be placed under state supervision to help combat the spread of misinformation online.
Critics say the government is using the measure to expand control over the platforms rather than merely to regulate them.
Thousands of people, mostly young people aged roughly 18 to 30, took to the streets across the country to protest the move.
In Kathmandu, the situation escalated on Monday when protesters tried to force their way into the parliament building. Participants in the protests also voiced concerns about rising government corruption.
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – SEPTEMBER 8: Nepalese youth stage an anti-government protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 8, 2025. According to reports, eight protesters have been killed and over 100 injured after police opened fire on the demonstrators. (Photo by Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Image Credits:Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu / Getty Images
Nepal has made a dramatic U-turn, reversing a social media ban imposed last week after the decision sparked nationwide “Gen Z” protests that reportedly left at least 19 people dead.
The ban, which blocked access to 26 platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, was imposed following an August 25 directive requiring foreign social media companies to register their operations in Nepal and appoint a local contact within seven days. When most platforms failed to comply by the deadline, the government cut access last week.
Late on Monday, Nepal’s Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung told reporters that the government had revoked the social media ban in response to the public outrage.
Monday’s reversal came just hours after thousands of people, many of them students in school uniforms, flooded the streets across Nepal, demanding an end to the social media blackout. The youth-led protests escalated into violent clashes with security forces in several areas, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 demonstrators and leaving more than 100 others injured, according to local media reports.
In a statement late Monday, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the protests turned violent due to infiltration by certain elements, but that the government was never opposed to the demands of the new generation.
International organizations, including the United Nations and human rights groups such as Amnesty International, had earlier raised concerns about the ban and the government’s response to the public uproar.
“We call on the authorities to respect and ensure the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement on Monday.
The deadly incidents stemmed from the social media ban imposed last week by Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which blocked access to 26 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. The move followed an August 25 directive requiring foreign social media companies to register their operations in Nepal and appoint a local contact within seven days.
Some platforms, such as TikTok and Rakuten Group-owned Viber, were not affected by the ban as the government stated they had already complied with the directive and registered locally.
The social media restrictions are part of a broader government effort to regulate digital platforms. Earlier this year, Nepal’s government faced widespread outrage over its proposed social media bill, which is still pending approval. The legislation includes provisions for imprisonment and fines for posts “deemed against national sovereignty or interest.” The proposal “threatens to severely undermine press freedom and digital expression,” the International Federation of Journalists said.
Nepal has made a dramatic U-turn, reversing a social media ban imposed last week after the decision sparked nationwide “Gen Z” protests that reportedly left at least 19 people dead.
The ban, which blocked access to 26 platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, was imposed following an August 25 directive requiring foreign social media companies to register their operations in Nepal and appoint a local contact within seven days. When most platforms failed to comply by the deadline, the government cut access last week.
Late on Monday, Nepal’s Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung told reporters that the government had revoked the social media ban in response to the public outrage.
Monday’s reversal came just hours after thousands of people, many of them students in school uniforms, flooded the streets across Nepal, demanding an end to the social media blackout. The youth-led protests escalated into violent clashes with security forces in several areas, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 demonstrators and leaving more than 100 others injured, according to local media reports.
In a statement late Monday, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the protests turned violent due to infiltration by certain elements, but that the government was never opposed to the demands of the new generation.
International organizations, including the United Nations and human rights groups such as Amnesty International, had earlier raised concerns about the ban and the government’s response to the protests.
“We call on the authorities to respect and ensure the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement on Monday.
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Some platforms, such as TikTok and Rakuten Group-owned Viber, were not affected by the ban as the government stated they had already complied with the directive and registered locally.
The social media restrictions are part of a broader government effort to regulate digital platforms. Earlier this year, Nepal’s government faced widespread outrage over its proposed social media bill, which is still pending approval. The legislation includes provisions for imprisonment and fines for posts “deemed against national sovereignty or interest.” The proposal “threatens to severely undermine press freedom and digital expression,” the International Federation of Journalists said.
At least 13 people have been killed and dozens are injured in Nepal after demonstrations against a government social media ban led to clashes between protesters and security forces.
Thousands heeded a call by demonstrators describing themselves as Generation Z to gather near the parliament building in Kathmandu over the decision to ban platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube.
Nepal’s Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba told the BBC police had had to use force – which included water cannons, batons and firing rubber bullets.
The government has said social media platforms need to be regulated to tackle fake news, hate speech and online fraud.
But popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal, who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.
Demonstrators carried placards with slogans including “enough is enough” and “end to corruption”.
Some said they were protesting against what they called the authoritarian attitude of the government.
As the rally moved into a restricted area close to parliament, some protesters climbed over the wall.
“Tear gas and water cannons were used after the protesters breached into the restricted area,” police spokesman Shekhar Khanal told the AFP news agency.
A Kathmandu district office spokesperson said a curfew was imposed around areas including the parliament building after protesters attempted to enter.
Last week authorities ordered the blocking of 26 social media platforms for not complying with a deadline to register with Nepal’s ministry of communication and information technology.
Since Friday, users have experienced difficulty in accessing the platforms, though some are using VPNs to get around the ban. So far, two platforms have been reactivated after registering with the ministry following the ban.
Nepal’s government has argued it is not banning social media but trying to bring them in line with Nepali law.
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Thousands of young Nepalis have poured onto the streets of Kathmandu after the government imposed a sweeping ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, X and WhatsApp. What began as an outcry over digital restrictions has escalated into the largest youth-led uprising the country has seen in years, fueled by broader frustrations over corruption and political dysfunction.
Protesters, many in their teens and 20s, rallied outside Parliament chanting slogans such as “Shut down corruption, not social media.” Demonstrators attempted to storm barricades near Singha Durbar, the government headquarters, prompting police to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons. Authorities later imposed a curfew across parts of the capital.
Casualty figures remain disputed. Local media have reported between two and eight deaths, while hospitals confirmed more than 80 people injured in clashes, including journalists caught in the crossfire.
The protests were triggered last week when Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology ordered platforms to suspend operations unless they formally registered under new regulations. Officials argued the ban was necessary to curb disinformation and protect national security. Critics, however, say the move is a thinly veiled attempt to stifle dissent and control online spaces heavily used by Gen Z.
Opposition parties have voiced support for the demonstrators, warning the government that the ban risks deepening instability. International human rights groups have also raised concerns about freedom of expression and access to information.
Whether the restrictions will hold remains unclear. Many Nepalis have already turned to VPNs to bypass the blocks, while organizers vow to continue street protests until the ban is lifted. For now, Kathmandu remains under tight security, with riot police stationed around major intersections and the city bracing for further unrest.
Like in other parts of South Asia, censorship is not new in Nepal. Earlier this year, Nepali auteur Deepak Rauniyar’s Venice-bowing “Pooja, Sir: Rajagunj” released in the country after a contentious battle with government censors that left the film with significant alterations.
The scenes in Nepal echo mass youth protests in neighboring Bangladesh last year, where students and young professionals mobilized against corruption, unemployment and government crackdowns. That movement, which paralyzed Dhaka for weeks, ultimately forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign after more than 15 years in power, reshaping the country’s political landscape and underscoring the rising influence of South Asia’s younger generations.
